Day 2 - When In Bakewell……

It was an awful night’s sleep and I have no explanation for it. I was still awake at 3am when my bladder demanded attention. I had to crawl out of my pit, get partially dressed and weave my way through the dorm trying not to wake anyone in the process.

I still woke up at 8am and after a shower, I headed to the kitchen to get breakfast for which I had very low expectations. I was very pleasantly surprised. I had 3 cups of coffee, 3 slices of toast and a banana, whilst I finished my blog. I could and should have had more, but it was just too early.

At 10.05am, I checked out of the hostel and conservatively rode my bike to the nearest petrol station. It was a relief to make it and I filled her to the gunnels.

I then set my SatNav to take me to Lichfield on the fastest route without encountering the M6 Toll Road. I arrived around 11am and headed straight to Lichfield Cathedral. It looked stunning.

Lichfield Cathedral is a Gothic masterpiece in Staffordshire, notable for being the only medieval cathedral in the UK with three spires, earning it the nickname "the Ladies of the Vale". It is one of the oldest sites of Christian worship in the country, with a history dating back to the 7th century and the burial place of St Chad. The cathedral features a 14th-century design, extensive medieval stained glass, and important artifacts like the Lichfield Gospels and the Lichfield Angel.

My first job was to find somewhere free to park. This wasn’t easy. I headed for the car parks where signs stated parking motorcycles was free but motorcycles were only allowed in the designated motorcycle bays. I drove around 2 car parks, but neither had a designated motorcycle bays. No wonder they were free!

I eventually found a space on the road some distance away, then I walked back to the very impressive cathedral for a few photos. I had the option to go inside, but I chose not to. The donations requested sign put me off.

I walked through the attractive town centre and then back to my bike, where I was starting to discover that hiking whilst wearing motorcycle trousers was not a good idea. My jeans were dripping.

My next stop was up the A38 to Cromford Mills and Canal. Cromford Mills and the Derwent Valley Mills lie on the Derwent River and are a designated World Heritage Site.

Built in 1771 by Sir Richard Arkwright, it is the world’s first successful water-powered cotton spinning mill and a cornerstone of the Industrial Revolution.

Sir Richard Arkwright’s invention of the cotton-spinning machine, the waterframe, revolutionised the cotton industry, transforming it from a small cottage industry to one of large-scale factory production. Arkwright became known as the ‘Father of the Factory System’ for launching the world’s first production line. These ideas led to the growth of hundreds of Arkwright style cotton mills across the country and by the early 1800s cotton was Britain’s major import and export.

I strolled around the interesting picturesque industrial site and made a note to re-visit when I had more time.

It was then a very pleasant winding ride north following the Derwent River to Matlock, where I picked up the A6 to Bakewell. At Bakewell, I stopped for a Bakewell Pudding for my lunch. In ‘The Old Original Bakewell Pudding Shop’ my eyes were bigger than my belly and instead of buying just a very small pudding, I also bought a 6” Bakewell Tart. The very small pudding was surprisingly filling, so the tart will go home with me.

I then rode on to Buxted to admire the architecture of Buxton Baths, Buxton Crescent, Devonshire Dome and particularly Buxton Opera House. The town was weirdly chockablock with taxi ranks and yet again I struggled to find somewhere to park up, so I snapped the Opera House and continued on.

Next stop was Speedwell Cavern in the heart of the Peak District National Park in Hope Valley at Winnats Pass, which is down through a steep gorge.
Speedwell Cavern is an old 18th century lead mine, which can be explored on a boat tour, which seems to worth a visit.

I obviously didn’t stop, but drove on via Edale intending to visit Derwent Dam. My route took me alongside Ladybower Reservoir until the road came to a dead end and a car park. Apparently you had to park up and walk some 600 metres distance to the Derwent Dam.

Derwent Dam is famous for being the home of the Dam Busters and it had a private museum in a tower of the Dam, but it closed in 2017 when the owner, Vic Hallam died.

I chose not to walk to the Dam because time was getting on and I had a gig to get to.

I arrived in Sheffield at about 5.30pm and checked into the Wilson Carlisle Centre, where I had the luxury of my own bedroom and bathroom. I popped out to the shops for digestive biscuits, Cathedral City, a small bar of Bournville dark chocolate and a bottle of red wine for my tea.

By 7pm, I met up with Lee Battrum, my drinking buddy on the NMA European Magic Bus Tour. After a quick pint, we went on to The Leadmill, the venue for tonight’s gig.

Lee has mild MS, so I stood further back than normal with him until he needed to prop himself up against the bar, which gave me the opportunity to get down in the slightly more subdued mosh pit for the last half dozen songs. I got roped in to holding Jack’s left leg for Green and Grey. Obviously it was another great set, with just a couple of changes to the previous night. Out went Idumea and Bittersweet and in came Devil’s Bargain and Language.

At the end of the gig and after the photo, I walked with Lee to the kebab shop, where after he had ordered I couldn’t resist and annoyingly ordered myself a mixed doner with chips and a nan bread. I left Lee waiting for his Uber and I returned to my bedroom to eat my kebab in my pants with a mug of red wine.

NMA Song of the Day - Stormclouds by New Model Army.
Non NMA Song of the Day - Sheffield: Sex City by Pulp.Читать далее